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NOV 2024
Gratitude in Action The Key to a Happier, Healthier Life
Gratitude is incredibly important. It is one of the foundational pillars of our mental health: Looking on the bright side and being grateful for the positive aspects of our lives has become a regular practice of mine. The more you look through that lens, the more grateful you are for the good in your life and the more grounded you become. This holiday season, I want to emphasize how important gratitude has been for me and what I am most grateful for. MY TEAM When it comes to the people who make our firm great and our invaluable work possible, I cannot thank them enough! I am incredibly grateful to everyone who works at our firm. We are incredibly fortunate to have a team that puts their heart and soul into whatever they do. They can deliver professional service while always striving to better themselves. As they learn and earn more experience by providing our clients with the best possible service, they only strengthen our firm and our quality of service. Without them and their tireless work, none of this would be possible. MY SOBRIETY While I have mentioned this before, my sobriety is something I am incredibly thankful for. For some, substance abuse issues lead to them hitting rock bottom and losing control of their lives. For me, it was an indulgence that I gave into much more than I should have. During COVID-19, I started drinking heavier and harder. While
I was not addicted to alcohol, if I did not have a drink during the day, I became restless and bored, as if I was relying on it to entertain me and get me through each day. When I made that realization, I realized I needed to take a hard break from drinking. I decided that I would take a break for one year. Naturally, that led to me never taking a drink again. I have embraced my sobriety and no longer think about it on a day-to-day basis. The idea of never doing something again seems difficult, but I feel solid enough
life we have together for granted. We live in a quaint suburb west of Chicago, across the street from a park. They are close enough to their school to walk there, and I am eager to watch them make their way to school from my living room window. We have made amazing friends in our neighborhood, and all of our neighbors — including their young kids who are friends of our children and come around to play all the time — make it an idyllic place to live. Sometimes, we
in my sobriety that it has become something I am grateful for. I did not do a program, though I do partake in therapy once a month. If you are not cultivating the muscle that is sobriety, it is easy to forget all of the greatness that has entered your life because of it. MY FAMILY One of the things I am most thankful for — as are most people — is family. I am incredibly grateful for my wife and two children; it is difficult to describe how amazing it has been to watch my daughter Nora and son Luke grow up. I am also incredibly grateful for my mom, my sister, and my in-laws. And, of course, my dad, who, as we say to Luke and Nora, “lives in the stars.” I never take the
have to pinch ourselves, as we feel so fortunate to be where we are.
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The Disappearance of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS AT EPHESUS — WESTERN TURKEY A man named Herostratus burned the temple down, hoping to become famous in history as a result. HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON — HILLAH, IRAQ Unfortunately, this ancient wonder never existed in any actual Babylonian records. It was likely a myth created by Roman and Greek authors. STATUE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA — OLYMPIA, GREECE After the statue was dismantled and moved to Constantinople, a fire destroyed it in the 5th century. COLOSSUS OF RHODES — RHODES, GREECE An earthquake around the year 225 B.C.E. toppled the statue, and in 654, when Arabs invaded Rhodes, they destroyed it and sold the metal for scraps. LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA — ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT This ancient wonder was yet another destroyed by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323.
You may have heard of “the seven wonders of the world,” but what you may not know is that the seven we
know today are actually considered the “new” wonders of the world, replacements for their ancient predecessors, aptly named “the seven wonders of the ancient world.” So, you’re probably wondering, “Well, what happened to those ancient wonders?” The unfortunate answer is that all but one — the Great Pyramid of Giza — have been destroyed. Here’s what happened to the other six. MAUSOLEUM AT HALICARNASSUS — BODRUM, TURKEY An earthquake sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries reduced the mausoleum to rubble.
Grandparents’ Legal Rights Securing Visitation and Custody
SECURING CUSTODY While securing visitation rights can be a strenuous prospect for
Being a grandparent is a wonderful honor but also an incredible responsibility. After all, your grandchildren benefit from your influence and can learn a lot about humility, work ethic, and other important qualities from your stalwart example. When your grandchildren are in an untenable situation, it can be excruciating to sit by and do nothing. Fortunately, when grandchildren are mistreated, neglected, or lack a mother or father figure in their lives, grandparents can petition the courts to obtain visitation, or even custody, of their grandchildren. SECURING VISITATION In Illinois, securing grandparent visitation is difficult, and specific circumstances must be met. These can include the death of one of the grandchildren’s parents (or, if the parent has been missing for three or more months) or proof that depriving grandparents of visitation presents harm for the grandchildren, either mentally, physically, or emotionally. Otherwise, if a parent has been incarcerated, or if the grandchildren’s parents are divorced and at least one parent does not object to the grandparents having visitation, visitation can be granted.
grandparents, securing custody requires even more stringent conditions be met. In Illinois, grandparents are only
granted custody of their grandchildren if the parents willingly give up custody due to financial difficulties or other circumstances or if the parents are found unfit to retain custody due to criminal behavior or substance abuse issues. The burden of proof is high for grandparents to secure custody, and the court will only do so if they find it to be within the child’s best interests. If you seek legal support in obtaining visitation or custody of your grandchildren, call us at (312) 248-6170 to schedule a case evaluation.
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Changes to Your Divorce Agreement Top Causes for Modifying Divorce and Parenting Plans
Despite perceptions and wishes to the contrary, divorce decrees are not always the final step those ending their marriage need to take. Circumstances that can affect one or both ex-spouses may require modifications to the divorce decree. Here, we examine the common causes for modifying a divorce or parenting plan. SPOUSAL SUPPORT If a party has a dramatic change in income, either due to a loss of employment, a raise, receiving an inheritance, or accepting a new position, it may become necessary to seek modifications to an alimony agreement. This is also common if the recipient of spousal support has remarried, moved in with their partner, or their financial situation has otherwise changed to require an increase or decrease in the amount of money they receive every month. It may also happen that financial circumstances call for the end of spousal support entirely. In these situations, both parties must seek help from skilled family law attorneys to help modify their spousal support agreements equitably. PARENTING PLAN The parenting plan is one of the most common reasons for modifying a divorce. Despite agreements, parenting time is not always respected by both parties. When one party is denied parenting time, does not receive child or spousal support, is denied allocation of marital property owed to them, or if decisions are made
on behalf of the child without consulting them, they may be able to secure post-judgment enforcement. Post-judgment enforcement can modify either party’s parenting time based on the child’s needs and best interests. An expert family law attorney can be necessary to secure modifications to a parenting plan and ensure that they are enforced. If you are looking for legal support in modifying your divorce or parenting plan, call us at (312) 248-6170 to schedule a case evaluation.
TAKE A BREAK
Everything- Seasoned Dinner Rolls
No need to make rolls from scratch this season. Instead, dress up store-bought rolls with delicious everything bagel seasoning!
Ingredients • Cooking spray
• 1 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
• 20 frozen dinner rolls • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Directions 1. Coat a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and arrange frozen rolls in the pan to thaw according to package instructions. 2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Then, melt butter and honey together in the microwave or on the stove. Once the rolls thaw, brush butter mixture over the rolls and sprinkle seasoning on top. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden, and serve these tasty rolls straight out of the oven!
Apple Basketball Black Friday Fireplace
Gratitude Leaves Nap Parade
Pie Stuffing Turkey Veteran
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161 N. Clark, Ste. 1700 Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 488-1938 rbbfirm.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
1.
The Importance of Gratitude
2.
What Happened to the Original 7 Wonders of the World? Understanding Grandparents’ Visitation and Custody in Illinois When Are Parenting Plans and Divorces Modified?
3.
Everything-Seasoned Dinner Rolls
4.
The Heroic Hound Who Saved a Life in Japan’s Tsunami
A Dog’s Intuition: How Babu Saved Her Human From a Tsunami
The tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011 was unimaginable; the natural disaster killed nearly 20,000 people in minutes. But amid the chaos, there was at least one tiny miracle: an 11-year-old Shih Tzu named Babu. Tami Akanuma, an 83-year-old woman living in the coastal city of Miyako, had her typical morning interrupted by a 9.0 earthquake that shook her house roughly 200 yards from the coast. When it stopped, she breathed a sigh of relief, but Babu became extremely agitated. The small dog began frantically pacing around the living room, moaning, and jumping at the door. Though it was early for Babu’s morning walk, Akanuma decided to appease her. Sources differ on what happened next. Some say officials broadcast a tsunami warning, and Akanuma realized she must evacuate,
while others state she knew nothing of the impending disaster. But everyone agrees that Babu jumped into action. She instantly headed for a large hill near Akanuma’s home — the opposite direction of the pair’s usual walk. Akanuma did not dismiss the dog’s instincts. Babu tugged urgently at her leash, running as far as she could before turning to her owner. Akanuma said Babu seemed to be encouraging her to move faster, and the dog ran ahead every time Akanuma caught up. Akanuma later estimated they walked more than half a mile in a few minutes. Only moments after the duo finally reached the top of the hill, they watched an enormous wave wash over their home. The house was destroyed, but Akanuma and Babu escaped with their lives.
How did Babu do it? People have long suspected that animals can predict natural disasters, but the truth is elusive. Scientists agree that animals aren’t psychic but disagree on whether something else might be at play. Some attribute the supposed phenomenon to the “psychological focusing effect,” or a human tendency to emphasize one detail in our memories while discarding others. But others point to dogs’ heightened senses of hearing and smell, suggesting animals may be able to detect small atmospheric changes that humans can’t. No matter the explanation, Akanuma credited her dog with saving her life, and the two gratefully celebrated Babu’s 12th birthday from an evacuation shelter only weeks later.
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